TOKYO, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened sharply lower Thursday, following an overnight surge in crude oil futures, which briefly topped 100 U.S. dollars per barrel.

In the first 15 minutes of trading, the benchmark 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 1,380.41 points, or 2.50 percent, from Wednesday to 53,858.99. The broader Topix index was down 65.11 points, or 1.75 percent, at 3,652.30. ■